Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-03-23

quiry a man about whom nothing
definite is said, but good deal is i'm
piled. and in this unenviable state of
mind he found waiting for him Nellie.
his affianced bride, and blue envel-
ope.
The latter was from firm of solicit
tors, announcing that his old uncle
had died, leaving him his sole heir.
Thank God!" he exclaimed. poor
old gentleman, he has done me a good
turn at the moment required it most.
Nellie-sweetheart-I am rich man.
Tomorrow l throw up this profession,
which, if cared little about before, I
loathe now. This day three weeks.
darling, we will be married; and then
We'll 60 abroad for six months. Does
this suit your viewsP''
The answer of the young person adj
dressed has not been recorded; it Is
sufficient for us TO know that, two
months later, Nellic-Mrs. Ralph Nut
ford-was installed in an exquisite lit
tie apartment looking out upon the
Champs Elysees, and her husband.
who had been down to the Riviera to
look out for a permanent habitation
for himself and his bride, was hasten
ing back to her In q frst-class car
riage on the Paris Marseilles railway.
In the corner opposite to him sat an
American, who, with the effability OF
that free-born race. had entered into
conversation with him, and the CONVEX
sation had turuncd upon the shipping
at Marseilles.
"You seem to know thing or two
about boats, stranger" observed the
American.
"Well, I ought to, seeing that I was
connected with an American line for
some years."
"You were! Then you must have
come across some funny yarns in con-
nection with those same steamers.
Bless you! There's deal of romance
connected with those lines! 1 could
tell you story-but. there, it wouldn't
interest you, perhaps"
"On the contrary" replied Mr.. Nut
ford, II should very much like to hear
some of your experiences; we have the
end of long journey before us.
"Oh, they're not my experiences; but
friend of mine from Chicago told me
a rum story about the Gable line few
days ago. Remember the ParagonP
Went down mysteriously beginning
of the year? Yes, you know. I'll tell
you story about that, II you like.
Shall Ip Very well-we've got half
an hour. 1t happened like this but
mind, you promise on your British
honor never to let this 60 any further
All right.
"Colonel Jedadiah z. Spinks got
planted last fall with huge consign-
ment of hides; got 'em as his share of
a steal, or something of that kind, and
all his pals laughed at him because
they said even he couldn't get profit
out of 'em. So what dye think he
does? Ships EN- all aboard the Para
gon as cargo, declares them as Indian
bullion embroideries, and insurcs them
against all risks at 100000! He spot
ted the Paragon because there was a
young fool of fifth officer on board
named Mudford or Retford, or some
thing like that, who was just the kind
of soft he wanted, and he had him
sounded, to make sure, one day at Del
monico's, by friend who went and
sat with him, and entered into CONVEX
sation-just as you and l have done;
and the Colonel got girl, lovely and
without relations, with cheek and
pluck and beauty, but down on her luck
and hard up for cash and excitement,
aud sent her on board as his niece,
making the voyage to Scringapatam
under the care of the captain? She
made tremendous love to the young
spark. playing the pompous old ass
of captain off against him, and got
him to herself on deck ono dark
night when there was no one else on
deck but two men sent on as part OF
the extra crew by the Colonel himself,
and instructed by him. While she
flirted with him we'll out Of sight un-
der the bridge. these two men let down
over the side Remington dynamite
machine, and blew the blessed old boat
to blazes, and then cockered up yarn
about mysterious vessel that had
come upon them suddenly, run them
down and got clear away! I knew
you'd laugh. This young fool, in no
end of funk about his certificate, sup
ports their yarn, and, of course. never
says word about the girl. They come
over; the loss is proved bona fide acct
dental. and Colonel Jedadiah z. Spinks
nets flOO, 900 sterling clear profit bang
out of the insurance Offices! But wait
a minute. The ends the tragic part of
it. That beautiful girl, with her mar
velous talents, that would make her an
Empress if she wanted to be one, goes
and falls in love-the real thing!-with
the man, and won't touch penny of
her share of the plumber. Waste of
genius, call it. But all women are
alike. And egad, sir, she's married
him! What dye think of that for a
yarnP"
"Most startling and amusing. But
here is Paris. Thank you so much for
your delightful compsny. Your story
has indeed interested me greatly